Occupational Hazard: The Ultimate Workplace Romance Box Set

by Eve Langlais

Lauren extended her hand to Tom as Gavin finished the meet and greet.

  “Lauren, this is Tom Cantrell and his lovely wife, Jenny.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you both,” Lauren said.

  Tom was a handsome man, about the same height as Gavin, but thinner, lankier. His shaggy blond hair and blue eyes made him look more like a surfer than … well, maybe he was a surfer. Gavin hadn’t said.

  “We’re happy to meet you, Lauren,” Tom said.

  “Gavin has told us wonderful things about you. It’s nice to put a face with a name,” Jenny said.

  Gavin cleared his throat. “Why don’t you ladies go handle the rest of the food. Everything is on the counter. Steaks will be ready in a few minutes.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “Gavin is under the false impression I’m helpful in the kitchen, in spite of my assurances to the contrary. Want to make me look good by helping me throw together a killer salad, Jenny?”

  “I’ll tell you what,” Jenny said. “I’ll handle the salad, you open the wine.”

  Jenny was a cute little thing. If she were five-feet-two, Lauren would be shocked. Cute figure, blonde like her husband, with beautiful blue eyes and a warm smile. Lauren liked her immediately.

  “You’re on.”

  Lauren was relieved Jenny seemed to know her way around the kitchen. By the time Lauren opened a bottle of wine and poured them both a glass, as well as delivered two glasses to the men outside, Jenny was well into salad preparation.

  “What can I do?” Lauren asked, wanting to at least make an effort to contribute to their meal.

  Jenny used a knife to point at the red bell pepper sitting on the counter. “Wanna slice that up?”

  Lauren grabbed a knife and settled next to Jenny at the counter. “Slicing, I can handle.”

  Jenny hip-checked her. “You know, it’s nice to see Gavin with company.”

  Lauren concentrated on not slicing her fingers off as she cut the pepper. “Gavin must have brought people out here before.” She couldn’t bring herself to say “other women”. The thought made her decidedly edgy.

  “What? Not hardly,” Jenny laughed softly. “Gavin is very protective of his privacy. He’s never had anyone stay with him, outside his family.”

  “He’s never brought a woman here?” She didn’t want to know about Gavin’s past exploits, but that seemed hard to believe, considering how beautiful and private this place was. It was the perfect romantic getaway.

  Jenny shook her head. “Nope. And believe me, I’d know. Tom is horrible at keeping secrets. Besides, with Gavin being so far away most of the time, there’s no way he’d come home and not tell Tom about it. Those two are thick as thieves.” Jenny winked and tossed the tomatoes she’d diced into the salad bowl between them.

  The guys came in, Gavin holding a massive plate of beef.

  “You gals ready for some grub?” Gavin asked.

  Jenny inspected Lauren’s work. “See? You aren’t helpless in the kitchen. Toss those in and let’s eat.”

  Lauren did as she was told and grabbed the bowl. Jenny picked up a variety of salad dressing bottles and they made their way to the table.

  Lauren moved toward the empty chair next to the one Gavin was standing behind. She set the salad bowl next to the platter of steaks and reached for her chair. Gavin beat her to it, pulling it out and waiting until she was settled to scoot her in.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” Gavin murmured close to her ear. He kissed her cheek before settling in his seat.

  Lauren darted a glance to find both Tom and Jenny smiling at them. Lauren would have never pegged Gavin as an affectionate man. Of course, she also hadn’t realized he had sexy dimples either, so she obviously wasn’t an expert in all things Gavin.

  She was learning, though. And if she didn’t get a hold of herself, she’d end up leaving this place with a broken heart.

  Lauren smiled back at Tom and Jenny.

  “Starving,” she said as Gavin slapped a steak on her plate. Jesus, did he expect her to eat the whole thing? There had to be half a cow on the table.

  Once the food had been served, there was an amicable silence as everyone dug in. Lauren was a tad uncomfortable at the way Gavin watched her as she took her first bite. Not because there were other people at the table, but because his gaze was so intense, she was afraid she’d miss her mouth.

  Thank God she didn’t. The succulent flavor of the meat had her taste buds jumping up and begging for more. She’d never tasted anything like it. “Oh my god. Babe. This is fantastic.”

  It was so good, she didn’t even worry about the endearment that slipped past her lips. She could blow it off as a result of the food-gasm that was happening in her mouth.

  Gavin’s gaze shone with approval—of her praise or her endearment, Lauren wasn’t sure. “I’m glad you like it.”

  Tom cleared his throat. “Yeah, yeah. King of the grill and all that. Delicious meat. We got it.”

  Lauren sputtered a laugh and reached for her wine.

  “So, Gav. I took a look at the files you sent over this morning,” Tom started. “It’s a shame about old man Nelson, though.”

  Gavin nodded, a scowl marring his features.

  Tom raised a brow. “This could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.”

  “Opportunity for what?” Lauren stopped cutting into her meal and glanced between the men as some sort of silent communication passed between them. “Hello? Anyone?”

  Lauren looked to Jenny.

  “Oh no,” Jenny said. “Don’t look at me. I don’t get involved when these two start yapping about business.”

  “What kind of business?” Lauren was intrigued. Maybe she could offer some suggestions. She took a sip of wine and waited for the men to get their heads out of their asses.

  Tom tossed Gavin a questioning glance before turning his attention to Lauren’s query. “Nelson owns the ranch that borders Gavin’s. Or, owned, rather. He passed on a few weeks ago.”

  “Tom.” The warning in Gavin’s tone was clear.

  “You own a ranch?” Of all the things Lauren had learned about Gavin, this surprised her the most.

  All of a sudden, she pictured Gavin in jeans and shitkickers, sweaty and dirty from a hard day’s work, and her, ready to ease his night with a warm meal, hot shower, and hotter sex. Which was crazy, because she didn’t cook. But, oh boy, could she handle the rest of the fantasy.

  Gavin’s gaze drifted from Tom to Lauren, any semblance of his earlier playfulness gone. “My family owns a ranch,” he said slowly. “Shadow Maverick Ranch, to be precise.”

  A strange excitement bubbled in her stomach. “Where is it? Close to here?” Lauren looked between the men, not sure who the answer would come from.

  Jenny sat back, wine glass in hand and a smirk on her lips, as if she were enjoying the exchange.

  Gavin sighed deeply, as if resigned to a conversation he didn’t want to be a part of. “Hour and a half from here, roughly,” he said. “Depending on traffic.”

  It was adorable, the way his Southern accent thickened with every word. Lauren could feel Gavin’s aggravation and wanted nothing more than to smooth out the crease that had formed between his brows.

  “So, what’s the big secret about this Nelson fella?” Lauren let her own Georgia drawl creep back in. “Y’all have an unresolved feud or somethin’?”

  Jenny choked on her wine.

  “Nothing so dramatic, I’m afraid,” Tom said. “Lawrence Nelson has the largest cattle ranch in this area. Not in Texas, mind you, but it’s nothing to sneeze at. Wanna know who’s second?” he asked with a wink and nodded his head toward Gavin.

  “Tom, I’m sure Lauren doesn’t want to hear about cattle ranchin’,” Gavin snapped. “We can talk about it later.” His tone was clearly meant to end the conversation.

  Lauren had a hundred questions, but she didn’t push it. Instead, she sought to break the tension that had stiffened Gavin’s shoulders. She might not know much about Ga
vin personally, but she’d worked with him long enough to know how he operated, what business buttons to push to get the desired reaction. Whether he played an active role in the family business or not, Lauren knew when it came to a challenge, Gavin was like a kid in a candy store. So, she’d give him one. A little game of throw the gauntlet, so to speak. At the very least, she’d distract him from whatever was making him testy.

  “So,” Lauren began and stabbed a piece of steak with her fork. “Is this from your family’s ranch?” She pretended to study the mouthwatering piece of meat before offering him a sweet smile.

  He gave her a puzzled look, as if wondering where she was headed. “Only the best for my guests.”

  “Hmm, the best, huh?” Lauren twirled her fork. “So, your family has the best ranch, but … not the biggest.” She popped the steak into her mouth and didn’t even try to cover her moan as the delicious flavor exploded on her tongue.

  Gavin regarded her through slits for a second before his face cracked up and he laughed, deep and husky.

  Tom grinned and reached to clap Gavin on the shoulder. “She’s got your number, doesn’t she? She’s got spunk. Oh, I like her, Gav. I like her, a lot.”

  Gavin’s heated gaze melted Lauren from the inside out. “Me too, Tom. Me too.”

  Chapter Eight

  After Lauren’s little conversational gambit, Gavin had returned to his good humor. Tom had taken the hint and steered the conversation away from business. Gavin’s friend had a quick wit Lauren enjoyed and Jenny kept her entertained with stories of Tom and Gavin’s antics in college. Lauren couldn’t remember when she’d had a more pleasant evening.

  She felt closer to Gavin. It was as though meeting his friends, sharing in this intimate moment in his life, had opened up a realm of possibilities for their relationship. They lived in different countries, but she was unemployed and free to look for work anywhere. He’d intimated friendship was just a start and she hoped he meant it, because she didn’t want this—them—to end.

  Lauren cleaned up while Gavin walked with Tom and Jenny back to their house. He needed to burn off dinner, he’d said.

  By the time he returned, the kitchen was clean and she’d changed into a comfortable T-shirt and cotton sleep shorts, and curled up on the couch with a glass of wine.

  “Mmm, looks good. You got one of those for me?” he asked as he pushed the slider all the way open, allowing the sweet sounds from the Gulf to filter into the room.

  She smiled and lifted her wine glass in offering. “I’ll share.”

  He slid the stem between two fingers and cradled the glass in his palm. Lauren couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth as he set the rim to his lips and drank. His throat worked, the glass lowered, his tongue swept across his lips, leaving a glittering sheen of moisture behind.

  Damn, the man was sexy.

  He handed the glass back to her. “Mind if I turn off the lights? The view will be worth it, I promise.” He kneeled by the fireplace, his shorts drawing tight across his backside.

  She loved the view so far.

  “Sure. This place is really great, Gavin. It’s so relaxing. Although I wouldn’t want to be the one to wash all those windows, I couldn’t imagine not having them.”

  He lit a few candles around the fireplace. “They’re a pain in the ass during storm season.” He turned the dial on the lights, casting the room in candlelight. “But, that makes it all worth it, don’t you think?” He jutted his chin in the direction of outside.

  Lauren had all the view she needed. The dim light gave him a dark, almost sinister, look as he came back to the couch. He was Casanova and a dangerous pirate rolled into one. A terrifying combination for her heart, to be sure.

  He propped his body in the corner of the couch and stretched a leg out behind her, leaving the other foot on the floor. He opened his arms. “Come here.” When she leaned up to put her wine glass on the table, he said, “Bring that too.”

  She scooted toward him. He twisted her hips and pulled her back until her butt rested between his powerful thighs. An arm snaked around her waist and he nudged her until she gave him her weight and relaxed against his chest.

  He squirmed behind her. “Not right. Sit up a second.”

  Lauren snickered and sat up. She turned to watch as he reached back and jerked his shirt over his head.

  As usual, when confronted with all Gavin’s muscles and strength, all she could think was touch, touch, touch. She placed her palm against his chest, teasing her fingers over the light smattering of hair covering him. She liked that his chest wasn’t bare, that he was one-hundred percent natural, rugged male.

  He waved her back. “Okay, sweetheart. Let’s try this again.” Her back had barely made contact with his chest when he blew out a frustrated breath. “Nope. Still not right. Take off your shirt, Lauren. Bra, too.”

  She arched her neck and nipped his chin. “I’m not wearing a bra.”

  He cursed softly. “Now, Lauren. Please. Jesus, I’m dyin’ here.”

  His drawl came out hot and heavy, something Lauren realized happened whenever he was distracted. “Dying to do what, exactly? Get me naked?” She felt a pang of disappointment as he took her wine and she discarded her shirt. She wanted nothing more than to get naked with him again. Another part of her, the ridiculous romantic part, had hoped—now they were finally alone—he’d be interested in more than having sex with her.

  He settled her back against him, but didn’t return her wine. “Mmm. Skin-to-skin. Perfect.” He nuzzled her hair. “I’d be lying if I said getting inside you wasn’t my ultimate goal for the evening. But, right now, I want to feel you against me. I’ve watched you all day. Watched the curve of your ass as you walked, the way your calves tightened when you crossed those beautiful legs, your gorgeous smile—and all I could think about was how much I wanted to touch you, feel your heart beat, absorb your warmth. I’ve never been so happy to see the ass-end of dinner with my friends before.”

  Her heart melted. This was what she’d dreamed of.

  “They seem like good people. It’s obvious they care about you.” She snuggled deeper against him, the warmth of his chest too much temptation to resist. “It was nice, you know, getting the chance to see you with your friends. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it. And I should remind you, you’ve been touching me all day.” So much so, she’d become painfully aware of the loss when he’d stopped. Was that his plan? To make her crave him? Because … mission accomplished.

  He took her hand as if to place a kiss on the back. Her pulse went berserk when he pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist instead. A sweet, painfully intimate gesture.

  “Not like this. I can’t get enough of you. I’m glad you’re here.” He kissed her hair, her temple, the curve of her ear. “Damn, you smell good.” His free arm moved and before she knew it, his fingers were tickling across her ribcage. Her stomach fluttered as he trailed across her belly button, then moved lower to trace the edge of her waistband. She expected him to breach the elastic, but he didn’t. He seemed content to touch the skin exposed and readily available to him.

  “Gavin,” she sighed. It felt so good, being with him.

  His fingers moved up, traced the curve of her breasts, avoiding her nipples, as he moved from one to the other. He feathered up her sternum, her throat. He cupped her chin and gently eased her head back onto his shoulder.

  “Want some more wine?”

  “Sure.” She raised her head and reached for the glass.

  He pulled it away. “Nope. Let me.” He brought the rim to her lips and gently tipped the wine into her mouth.

  That’s how it went. Gavin touching her. Activating every nerve to high alert. Offering her sips of wine while whispering beautiful things about her body, how she made him feel, and how much he enjoyed being with her.

  Lauren had never felt so cherished, so … loved. But, Gavin didn’t love her. Couldn’t love her. Not this soon. Could he? Her heart picked up a beat. It wasn’t soo
n. Not really. Being colleagues for twelve years had to count for something. Did count for something. Gavin had said they weren’t strangers, and he’d been right. Lauren knew what she needed to know. Gavin was a decent, hard-working man.

  And oh lord, his fingers were magical.

  Everywhere he stroked was an electrical shock straight to her core. Her skin felt alive, as if his touch had awakened something long dormant.

  “You feel so good.” His breath was warm against her ear. “You know, you took me by surprise tonight.”

  Tiny bumps erupted over her body. “I did?”

  He nibbled the edge of her ear, gently nudged her head until she tilted, giving him access to her neck. He hummed an affirmative. “You called me babe.”

  He kissed down her throat and Lauren found it hard to concentrate. “It slipped out.”

  He stopped. “Is that right?”

  She teased her fingertips along his thighs, wondering how honest she should be right now. To hell with it. Her life wouldn’t be amazing if she didn’t take a few risks.

  She turned and cupped his cheek, his evening stubble rough against her palm. “Yes, that’s right. It wasn’t something I thought about, it just happened. Slipped out as in it was a perfectly natural thing for me to say.”

  He threaded his fingers into her hair and brought her lips to his. “I liked it.” He licked the seam of her mouth and she opened, wanting, needing his kiss. He didn’t give it to her. “And don’t think I wasn’t on to your game at dinner, sweetheart.” His smile warmed her heart. “Thank you.”

  Lauren didn’t need clarification as to what he was thanking her for. “I don’t understand why the topic of the ranch upset you.” Since he didn’t seem to want to kiss her, she trailed kisses along his jaw. He raised his chin and she kissed down his throat to the base of his neck. “But, I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

  A strange expression crossed his features before a smirk curled his lips. “The only thing I wanna talk about is how badly I need to be inside you.”

  He slid from behind her, going to his knees on the floor. His hair fell over his forehead and he brushed it away. He set aside the wine glass and pulled her legs until her ass rested at the edge of the cushion.